Rewind a few hours earlier, inside an Osborn Industries office, Ron met with Curt Connors, who had just been released from prison.
At this time, Curt Connors could no longer transform back into the Lizard monster. The day Ron subdued Curt Connors, he had already injected him with the prepared antidote and resistance agent, eliminating the threat of the Lizard.
Similar to Norman Osborn's human enhancement serum, Curt Connors' research on the limb regeneration serum also came with extremely strong side effects. Because the regeneration serum used reptilian genes, this serum would directly alter a person's thoughts, making them feel like a reptile and eventually turning them into a monster with reptilian thoughts and body.
Fortunately, because reptilian genes were used, this serum was actually easier to resolve than the human enhancement serum. Curt Connors had already created a serum for it during his own research, which could transform the Lizard back into Curt Connors.
And Ron did more than that; he not only developed an antidote serum but also an inhibitory agent. Even if Curt Connors were to regain access to the serum that allowed him to transform into the Lizard monster, he would absolutely not be able to revert to his Lizard form.
Curt Connors looked utterly miserable. His face was extremely pale, his mind seemed listless, and he had lost a lot of weight. He also wore a seemingly very sturdy shackle on his leg, restricting his movement.
Accompanying Curt Connors were two uniformed Security Bureau officers. After SHIELD apprehended Curt Connors, they initially wanted to study him, but then realized he had no research value. Moreover, they had already exposed Curt Connors, so they couldn't keep him at SHIELD.
Therefore, SHIELD directly handed Curt Connors over to the National Security Bureau, allowing the Security Bureau to continue his detention.
Because Osborn had a partnership with the Department of Defense, and the Security Bureau was subordinate to the Department of Defense, Ron had Norman Osborn pull some strings to bring Curt Connors out, preparing to implement Ron's plan.
Ron found an excuse to call the two Security Bureau officers to the door, then he looked at Curt Connors, who was sitting motionless in the chair, and said indifferently,
"Dr. Curt Connors, how is it? The National Security Bureau's prison isn't a pleasant place to be, is it?"
Hearing Ron's words, Curt Connors finally looked up and saw Ron standing before him.
Looking at Ron, Curt Connors showed no surprise whatsoever.
The moment he was released from prison, he had probably already guessed that Ron was the one who let him out. So, when he saw Ron, his expression was only slightly complex; he didn't make any drastic moves, no desire for revenge, nor any intention to curse Ron.
He just glanced at Ron, then lowered his head again, maintaining his silence.
Ron was somewhat surprised by Curt Connors' appearance. It seemed this guy had lost the meaning of life and didn't want to do anything anymore!
However, Ron suddenly smiled.
Because, he was actually here to save this Curt Connors who had lost the meaning of life!
"Dr. Curt Connors, I actually admire you a lot. For your severed right arm, you invested all your savings, took out some loans, and ultimately spent a great deal of time, money, and effort, only to find that you still failed."
"Now, you've not only lost all your previous research achievements and your family, but you'll also be in prison forever. So you've also lost the meaning of life, feeling that you'll never be able to get out of that cold prison."
Ron's tone began to rise, and as he spoke, a green serum appeared in his hand, which he placed in front of Curt Connors.
"Dr. Connors, this is a successfully developed regeneration serum. Combined with specially formulated organic food, it can make your severed arm regrow within ten days. I can give you this regeneration serum, you just need to agree to one condition: inject this regeneration serum on the spot at the afternoon press conference!"
Hearing Ron's words, Curt Connors finally snapped back to reality. His gaze greedily fixed on the regeneration serum Ron had produced, clearly desperate to obtain it.
However, after a long moment, his gaze turned fiercely towards Ron, and he roared at him,
"You despicable thief! You stole my experimental results, and now you want me to agree to your demands and acknowledge your vile actions? That's absolutely impossible!"
Saying that, Curt Connors became sorrowful again, "I've already lost everything, so even if my lost right arm returns, what good would it do? I still can't get out of prison. What's the point of regrowing my right arm..."
Watching Curt Connors transform from anger to sorrow, Ron merely smiled, completely unfazed, and continued,
"Dr. Connors, I'm telling you, you actually have no choice. You need to understand, even if you don't agree, this serum will still be injected into your body. But if you willingly agree, I might even ask Mr. Norman to send someone to intercede with the Department of Defense on your behalf, so you can be released from prison early."
"Dr. Connors, I know you actually have a wife named Martha. You can imagine, if you stay in prison for the rest of your life, your wife Martha will definitely leave you and become another man's woman."
As he spoke, Ron's calm tone began to turn eerie, seemingly tinged with a hint of darkness.
"Perhaps Martha's belly is even carrying your child, and then after the child is born, your child will call someone else 'Daddy.' You wouldn't want that feeling, would you..."
"Enough!" Curt Connors finally couldn't take it anymore. He closed his eyes and roared, "You devil! I agree, I agree!"
Ron was indeed correct; he did have a wife named Martha, and she was indeed pregnant. Part of the reason he was so eager for his right arm to regrow quickly was because of his wife.
"No, Dr. Connors, you're mistaken. I am not a devil; on the contrary, I am your angel."
Ron's tone remained calm, as if he was completely unconcerned about the matter: "You should know that your name will still be listed first for the regeneration serum; I am only second. Furthermore, you will receive a very substantial sum of money. This money will allow you to pay off all your debts with plenty left over, and that remainder will ensure you live very well for the rest of your life. This matter has no downsides for you, so why would you think I am a devil?"
"I, I..." Curt Connors wanted to say something in his heart, but he couldn't.
Because if things really turned out as Ron said, there would be no downside to him agreeing to Ron's request, and he could even regrow his right arm. He wouldn't lose anything in this situation.
But why, then, did Curt Connors still feel so incredibly uncomfortable?
It was as if everything had been calculated by Ron, and he was just a puppet on Ron's strings. Whatever Ron wanted him to do, he would do, without even a shred of room for resistance.
However, if he didn't do it, what else could he do? Directly confront Ron?
Forget about his current state; even in his Lizard Doctor form, he couldn't even touch Ron, so how could he possibly be Ron's opponent?
Curt Connors sighed helplessly, lowered his head, and waited for the final moment to arrive.